Problem overview:
International commitments: At the Second Conference of the Parties (COP2) in 1996, Parties to the UNFCCC adopted guidelines for non-annex countries (mostly developing countries) to prepare initial national communications on greenhouse gas inventories and policies as well as measures undertaken to mitigate climate change, in conformity with Article 12 of the Convention.
Framework for coordination: The Royal Thai Government established a National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) to coordinate the country's climate change strategy, oversee the implementation and follow-up of the UNFCCC and prepare Thailand's initial communication.
Integrating all stakeholders: Although the NCCC was primarily inter-ministerial in composition, several nongovernmental organizations and private sector actors also participate.
Background in summary:
Establishment and Mandate: In September 1993, following Thailands ratification of the UNFCCC, the Prime Minister established a National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) as one of the National Environment Boards (NEB) sub-committees. The Committee advises the Royal Thai Government on matters relating to the Convention and develops national policy on climate change.
Composition of National Committee on Climate Change: The NCCC is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of MOSTE and the Office for Environmental Policy and Planning serves as Committees Secretariat. Members of the Committee include senior officials of the principal line ministries, agencies or departments. An official from the National Economic and Social Development Board also sits on the Committee. In terms of other participants, the NCCC is includes a representative of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, universities and NGOs.
Thailands Initial National Communication: In the fourth quarter of 2000, the NCCC released Thailands initial national communication and submitted it to the Convention Secretariat. Prior to releasing the report, a final draft was presented in Bangkok to the general public and all authorities concerned for comments in July 2000. Financial assistance to prepare the communication was made available through a GEF enabling activities grant.
Partnership with nongovernmental organizations: In producing the report, the OEPP commissioned Thailand Environment Institute to draft the chapter on greenhouse gas inventories. This collaboration between TEI and OEPP provides a fine illustration of government-NGO partnership in fulfilling commitments of an MEA.
Integrating Environment with Development Planning: Since the early 1990s, policies and issues advanced in the NCCC have been integrated in the five-year National Plans formulated by the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB).
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Good practice rating:
(1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score) |
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Sustainability
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Efficiency
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| - |
 Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other. |
1 |
Cost efficient. |
| 3 |
Sustainable over time (not one-off) |
Process |
| Adaptability |
2 |
Participation of the community |
| 1 |
Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?) |
3 |
Participation of resource owners/users |
| 2 |
Socio-cultural adaptability. |
2 |
Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private) |
| 2 |
Level of development adaptability. |
1 |
Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments. |
| 2 |
Style of government adaptability. |
1 |
Ability to attract political interest/support |
| 2 |
Degree of decentralization adaptability. |
- |
Procedures for feedback and review. |
Comments on this example:
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Sustainability of the project:
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International commitments: Although the NCCC was an important factor contributing to meeting Thailands reporting requirements under the UNFCCC, the frequency of the Committees meetings is relatively low, making it difficult for partnership to emerge among government ministries, businesses and the nongovernmental sectors.
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Adaptability of the project to other situations:
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Institutional coordinating mechanisms to coordination national follow-up and assist in the implementation of MEAs are a common occurrence in many countries of the region, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Climate Change
Framework for coordination and Integrating all stakeholders: For the proper functioning of inter-ministerial coordinating committees and the integration of multiple stakeholders, it is important to have an enabling environment that is supportive of such cooperation. The Thai Consititution of 1997 grants the public the right to participate in environmental management, as does other policy documents such as the long-term environmental Policy and Perspective Plan. Still, modalities or guidelines are needed to provide a clear understanding on multi-stakeholder involvement in inter-ministerial coordinating committees.
| Process of decision making and implementation: |
Framework for coordination and Integrating all stakeholders: The NCCC is a high-level coordinating body, chaired by the Secretary General of MOSTE and a sub-committee under the National Environment Board, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
The NCCC also enjoys close coordination among government ministries and agencies. In addition to the participation of numerous MOSTE/OEPP officials, representatives from other concerned line ministries also sit on the sub-committee, as well as a representative from the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). As a result of the inter-agency cooperation, the Thailand's climate strategy has been integrated into the medium-term development plans since the early 1990s.
The NCCC promotes multi-stakeholder participation and includes representatives from business associations, a nongovernmental organization and academic research institutions. These representatives are appointed, and the participation of more general resources users is restricted. Those who do participate, however, do contribute to the Committee's work. Thailand Environment Institute, for example, drafted the chapter of greenhouse inventories for the initial communication.
While there are certain costs associated with the functioning of inter-ministerial coordinating committees, the preparation of Thailands initial national communication was cost efficient, since it received financing through an enabling activities grant of the Global Environment Facility.
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Documentation: |
Literature or other written project review references
Thailand's Initial National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Bangkok, Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, 2000.
URL: http://www.oepp.go.th/projects/climate/index.html
Boyer, Brook. Institutional Coordination, Multi-stakeholder Participation and the Implementation of MEAs: National Experiences from Malaysia and Thailand. Discussion Paper 2001-003, Global Environment Information Centre, United Nations University, Tokyo.
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Source of Information: |
Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Thailand
Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Bonn.
URL: www.unfccc.int
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Contacts: |
Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment
Office of Environmental Policy and Planning
60/1 Soi Phibunwattana 7, Rama VI Rd., Phayathai Bangkok 10400
Thailand
Tel: +62 2-2797180-9
Fax: +62 2-271-3226
URL http://www.oepp.go.th
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Submitted by: |
Dr. Brook Boyer
Consultant
Geneva, Switzerland
brook_boyer@hotmail.com
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